Composition of 2026 UGC Teaching Award Selection Panel and Selection Criteria

Selection Criteria

All nominees for the Award will be assessed based on the following three criteria -

(a) Adoption of learner-centred approaches, ability to engage/inspire/impact on students and demonstration of superior acumen in teaching, which may include a good understanding of pedagogy, understanding how students learn and adopting suitable teaching and assessment approaches that can achieve better student learning outcomes; being able to interact with students and engage them in learning with enthusiasm; inspiring and supporting students, with respect for their diverse learning needs, to build confidence and capability (including critical thinking, analytical skills, values, etc.); and outstanding classroom teaching (in face-to-face, virtual or hybrid settings).

(b) Course/programme/curriculum design that can reflect a command of the field, which may include demonstrating up-to-date knowledge of the field of study in the design of the curriculum and student learning resources (e.g., textbooks, e-learning resources), adopting complementary research-informed teaching practices, incorporating research findings into curriculum design and teaching strategies by highlighting the connection between theory and practice, developing appropriate student learning outcomes, and adopting innovative approaches to teaching and assessment which can facilitate students' achievement of the learning outcomes etc., at/within an institutional, inter-institutional or sector-wide level. Nominees could outline whether and how they have incorporated research findings into their curriculum design and teaching strategies, highlighting the connection between theory and practice.

(c) Past/present achievement(s) and leadership in teaching and potential scholarly contribution to and impact on the development of effective teaching practice within the nominee(s)' own university and/or in other institutions, which may include demonstrating educational research and innovations in the field of study; and demonstrating leadership and evidence-based impact in the promotion of teaching excellence within and across disciplines and/or universities. In the case of early career faculty nominations, the focus will be on the nominees' potential of leadership in teaching as well as their past achievements. In the case of team nominations, the contribution of each of the team members, as well as the scale and complexity of impact of the team's collaborative work on the development of effective teaching practice at/within an institutional, inter-institutional or sector-wide level will be considered. Each team member's contribution in propagating the impact of their collaborative endeavours within his/her own university will also be taken into consideration. In addition, universities are also welcome to include examples of other prior collaborations among team members in the nomination materials (if the team is nominated for a specific project) but new and innovative collaborative initiatives are also encouraged. Under all three categories, nominations may outline strategies on how their good practices have been disseminated in the sector and their relevant extent, together with plans, if any, on how their impact could be further extended to the wider teaching community.

The three criteria carry no specified weighting. The Selection Panel will consider each nomination on its own merit with reference to the criteria.